13 Could 2025
Thanks for becoming a member of at the moment’s WHO/EMRO press briefing. I at all times recognize the chance to attach with our media colleagues.
I’ll start with an replace on a number of the most acute emergencies in our Area.
We stay deeply involved in regards to the catastrophic state of affairs in Gaza, with greater than 52,000 deaths and practically 120,000 accidents reported up to now.
1000’s of well being employees have been killed, injured, or detained. Hospitals that stay open are barely operational. Individuals are dying whereas life-saving medical provides sit simply past Gaza’s borders–denied entry.
After 9 weeks of complete blockade, the Israeli authorities suggest to close down the UN-led help distribution system and ship help below situations set by the army.
WHO and the UN won’t take part in any initiative that violates humanitarian ideas. Assist should attain these in want—wherever they’re―and the blockade should finish.
In keeping with the IPC Acute Meals Insecurity and Malnutrition Evaluation launched yesterday, all 2.1 million individuals in Gaza face extended meals shortages, with one in 5 individuals―practically half one million―dealing with hunger.
Three quarters of Gaza’s inhabitants are at “Emergency” or “Catastrophic” ranges of meals deprivation, the 2 worst ranges on IPC’s five-point scale.
Famine has not but been declared, however individuals are ravenous and illness is spreading quick.
With out pressing motion, this case will quickly deteriorate.
In Yemen, the place latest airstrikes have killed or injured over 1,000 individuals, and assaults on well being amenities persist, WHO is delivering important trauma provides.
Yemen can be dealing with one of many world’s largest cholera outbreaks—over 270,000 suspected instances and practically 900 deaths up to now yr, leading to an general case fatality ratio (CFR) of 0.33 per cent.
In Sudan, assaults on civilians and well being infrastructure proceed.
Over 400,000 individuals have fled renewed violence in El Fasher and Zamzam camp.
Sudan is dealing with the world’s worst starvation disaster when it comes to scale. An estimated 24.6 million individuals will face excessive ranges of meals insecurity this month, together with 770,000 kids affected by extreme acute malnutrition.
WHO is supporting 136 vitamin stabilization centres, which have handled 8,000 kids this yr, and is delivering medical provides to deal with pressing wants.
We’ve additionally deployed groups and provides to assist authorities fight cholera, which has killed over 1,600 individuals throughout 12 states.
Yesterday, 12 Could, was Worldwide Nurses’ Day. We launched the second State of the World’s Nursing Report, which warns that, with out pressing motion, main nursing shortages will persist past 2030—particularly in weak areas like ours.
Nurses are the spine of our well being methods―but they continue to be under-supported, underpaid, and under-protected.
In locations like Sudan and Gaza, the place well being methods are on the point of collapse, nurses stay on the frontlines―risking their lives to save lots of the lives of others.
In 2024, 61 per cent of all world assaults on well being care occurred within the Japanese Mediterranean Area, and over 80 per cent of these assaults impacted well being personnel.
Regardless of making up practically half of the well being workforce, nurse density within the Area is simply 15.5 per 10,000 individuals—a fraction of what’s wanted to ship protected, high quality care. This scarcity leaves well being methods dangerously fragile—particularly in crises.
After all, the wants in nations with graded emergencies go nicely past workforce shortages.
Cuts to abroad growth help have critically undermined WHO’s skill to ship important well being companies within the Japanese Mediterranean, affecting tens of millions.
This Area accounts for over half of WHO’s world emergency funding wants, however in 2025, WHO has acquired simply seven per cent of the funds required to reply to emergencies throughout the Japanese Mediterranean.
Well being amenities danger closure or extreme disruption, leaving refugees and displaced individuals with out emergency care, medicines, psychological well being assist, or trauma companies.
Illness outbreak detection and management are additionally severely compromised, with surveillance disrupted and laboratory capacities diminished, heightening the chance of uncontrolled epidemics.
Hundreds of thousands of lives are in danger. We want sustained, predictable financing to keep up emergency well being companies now and construct resilience for the longer term.
These and different crises will take centre stage subsequent week on the 78th World Well being Meeting.
Member States will meet for the forty second Programme, Price range and Administration Committee, the Meeting, and the 157th session of the WHO Government Board.
Collectively, they are going to assess progress and make essential selections—from emergency preparedness and response to the 2026–2027 programme price range.
Some of the high-profile objects is the Pandemic Settlement. After three years of negotiation, the draft is now prepared for adoption. It goals to strengthen worldwide collaboration to forestall and reply to future pandemics.
Key proposals give attention to pandemic preparedness by the One Well being method, stronger well being methods, a talented emergency workforce, geographically numerous R&D, a worldwide provide chain and logistics community, expertise switch, a
pathogen entry and profit sharing system, and a coordinated financing mechanism.
If adopted and absolutely carried out, this Settlement might stop the chaos, competitors, and inequity that outlined the COVID-19 pandemic. It might set up a more practical, evidence-based world response—rooted in solidarity and shared duty.
However adoption is only the start. Success would require political will, long-term funding, and whole-of-society engagement—from governments and communities to scientists and the personal sector.
WHO will play a essential function within the implementation of the Pandemic Settlement. We stand able to assist nations in turning these commitments into real-world influence.
Lastly, I wish to point out that the Japanese Mediterranean Well being Journal (EMHJ) has revealed half 2 of its particular difficulty on the medical dangers and well being implications of the conflict in Gaza. It’s accessible on the WHO/EMRO web site.
I now hand over to Nurse Alice Skaar from the Norwegian Assist Committee (Norwac), who has simply accomplished her newest rotation on the European Gaza Hospital.
